Medical Trial On Newborn Makes Medicinal Cannabis History

Despite the acceptance that medical cannabis is finally gaining, cannabis for pregnant women, infants, or anyone or anything baby-adjacent is still a majorly taboo topic. A new medical trial for newborn babies could change all that, however. 

A study led by the NHS Foundation Trust of Guy and St Thomas in London is working towards a cannabis-based drug that could be used for neonatal care, to help babies at risk of seizures and brain injury. 

While looking at cannabis as a treatment for children with seizures is nothing new, it is new to look into this treatment for newborns. According to the BBC, the trial is looking to see if it can reduce the degree of brain injury for those born with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, or HIE. This occurs when an infant’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and blood.  

The Baby in the Study
The baby being treated with the experimental medicine is Oscar, who was born by emergency Caesarean March 11, three days after his due date. His mother, Chelsea Parodi, who is 17, said she wanted to do everything possible to help her baby.